review

Scott Sports Ultimate Dryo Ripstop Jacket

The Scott Ultimate Dryo Ripstop Jacket is an excellent option for cold and crisp days in the Tetons. 

Shells are all the rage these days, but what about some love for the insulated ski jacket? 

Scott’s Ultimate Dryo Ripstop Jacket reminded me of just how nice it can be to rock an insulated shell on the hill, especially during this last cold snap in the Tetons. 

As I shivered my way through January (let’s just not talk about last week’s -25°F day when our power went out), I spent most of the month wearing at least one insulated jacket (often two or three). I opted mostly for resort laps in the Ultimate Dryo Ripstop, and was happy for that little extra oomph of warmth it provided me for some frosty days at Snow King Mountain (a.k.a. one of the coldest places on Planet Earth) and Grand Targhee Resort, WY. 

Cold and sunny groomer laps at Snow King Mountain, WY.

The light insulation adds warmth without a ton of bulk, stuffed with synthetic Duroloft Eco insulation and wrapped in a rugged ripstop two-layer shell. I spent a few storm days in this jacket and found the waterproofing to be more than satisfactory, though I will say we get some pretty dry storms here in the Tetons compared to the Pacific Northwest, so I can’t speak to its performance in a true “wintry mix.” 

The zippered pockets are in all the right places—I kept hand warmers and a few pieces of candy in the two zippered hand pockets, my phone in the chest pocket and my ski pass in the arm pocket. There’s also an interior goggle pocket with a detachable wipe. Though I never ended up stashing my goggles inside the jacket, I did stash my gloves in there while enjoying mandatory Wydaho Nachos from the Trap Bar at the end of the day (tortilla chips have nothing on waffle fries). 

The relaxed fit makes it easy to add an extra layer on ultra cold days.

If you’re like me—cold all the time—you might like to add another midlayer for really cold days, which I did while skiing in Snow King’s perpetual shade, and the relaxed fit leaves plenty of room for that. Another feature worth mentioning is the pricepoint. It rings in far below many ski jackets on the market these days. At $340, it’s an impressive bang for the buck. 

Aside from a quick 10-minute bootpack and some T to B bump runs, I wouldn’t say that I put this jacket through the ringer in terms of testing breathability. It’s built around warmth, not high output uphill. There are easy-to-slide underarm zips for dumping heat quickly, though I found this shell to regulate my temperature well without reaching for them often. You could take it in the backcountry in a pinch, though it’s not really designed to be packed down small. 

That being said, I’ll definitely be keeping this one in the rotation for resort days. We could all use a little more warmth in our lives. 

Tester Info:

Age: 29

Height: 5’8”

Jacket Size: Small

The Scott Ultimate Dryo Ripstop Jacket is available in men’s and women’s and retails for $340.

Cold chalk is where it’s at during Teton high pressure.

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